Charismatic special agent Dale Cooper, enshrouded in mystery and exuding unadulterated sex appeal in his wake (or was that just us?), was portrayed by actor Kyle MacLachlan.

MacLachlan had previously teamed up with director David Lynch for cult classic Blue Velvet in 1986, and went on to reprise his role in the TV series movie prequel Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me in 1992.

He went on to star in Dutch director Paul Verhoeven's guilty pleasure Showgirls (1995), and appeared in HBO's Sex and the City as Charlotte's first husband Trey MacDougal between 2000-2002.

The star also played Bree Van de Kamp's (played by Marcia Cross) husband Orson Hodge in Desperate Housewives from 2006 to 2012.

The actress also went on to reprise her role for the TV series movie prequel, and later starred as Carrie Fairchild in CBS soap opera Central Park West during the sole run of 21 episodes in 1995 and 1996.

She later appeared in medical drama ER between 2004 and 2005 as social worker Wendall Meade, and as Sara in Matt LeBlanc's Friends spin-off Joey (2005).

The actress also played Danielle Marchetti in season three of FX legal drama Damages in 2010, and currently stars as Wendy Beauchamp in Lifetime's Witches of East End.

Ashbrook starred in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, and went on to play the recurring role of Rich Rinaldi in teen drama Dawson's Creek between 2002-2003.

The actor also played Jimmy in TV drama Crash (2009) - the Starz network's spin-off of the Oscar-winning movie of the same title, and crime series Psych, which featured an episode inspired by Twin Peaks.

5. Richard Beymer

Richard Beymer plays the sinister Benjamin Horne who casually recites Shakespearean sonnets on cue, and has a monopoly over Twin Peaks with his ownership of the Great Northern Hotel and the seemingly only department store (/casino/brothel) One Eyed Jacks.

Prior to Twin Peaks, Beymer played Peter in 1959's The Diary of Anne Frank, and Tony in the film adaptation of Broadway musical West Side Story in 1961. He also made numerous guest appearances in Murder, She Wrote between 1987 and 1996.

Lara Flynn Boyle stars as Donna Hayward, the bereft best friend of Laura Palmer. Donna dedicates her life to solving Laura's murder, before becoming romantically linked to Laura's secret boyfriend James Hurley.

The actress did not appear in Fire Walk With Me, instead going on to star as Stacy in Wayne's World (1992) - recently reuniting with that movie's cast - and played Helen Jordan in Todd Solondz's Happiness in 1998. The star played Assistant District Attorney Helen Gamble in legal drama The Practice between 1997 and 2003.

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She also starred as shapeshifting alien Serleena in Men in Black II (2002).

Sherilyn Fenn plays the smouldering and sassy Audrey Horne - intelligent and beautiful daughter of Benjamin Horne, who crushes on Special Agent Cooper.

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Fenn starred as Curley's wife in Gary Sinise's Of Mice and Men in 1992, and took the lead role in 1993's steamy (and bizarre) Boxing Helena - the directorial debut of David Lynch's daughter Jennifer Chambers Lynch.

Her TV credits include Gilmore Girls (2006-2007) and Fox drama Boston Public (2003-2004). In 2012, she appeared in horror short Project: Phoenix alongside James Logan.

James Marshall plays James Hurley, a brooding motorcycle fanatic afflicted with a troubled family background who secretly dated Laura Palmer.

Before his part in Twin Peaks, Marshall starred as Kevin Randall in hit US sitcom Growing Pains from the late '80s to early '90s.

He also starred in the Twin Peaks movie prequel, and is probably best known for his role as Pfc Louden Downey in Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men and for his lead as Tommy Riley in boxing drama Gladiator (1992).

Everett McGill plays James's uncle Big Ed Hurley, the local gas station owner who's trapped in a troubled marriage with wife Nadine, but deeply in love with high school sweetheart Norma Jennings.

Prior to Twin Peaks, McGill starred in Clint Eastwood's war film Heartbreak Ridge (1986), and played baddie Ed Killifer in Licence to Kill. He also starred in horror flick The People Under The Stairs.

The actor filmed scenes as Ed Hurley for Fire Walk with Me, but they were later deleted.

McGill has since appeared in Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995) with Steven Seagal and, amazingly, a young Katherine Heigl (pictured above with McGill). One of his last on-screen acting roles to date, The Straight Story (1999), saw him reunite with Lynch.

Previously to Robertson's role in Twin Peaks (the star's scenes from the movie prequel were also cut), she starred in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) and later starred in Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991) with Christina Applegate and John Getz.

She went on to provide the voice for the Feather Duster in Disney's Beauty and the Beast (1991).

Robertson most recently appeared in TV series Psych on the USA network - along with a few fellow Twin Peaks co-stars.

13. Harry Goaz

Harry Goaz plays the sensitive, slightly dim but kind-natured Deputy Andy Brennan, whose weakness is visible at crime scenes where he is known to have a good cry.

Goaz went on to star in cult NBC show Eerie Indiana between 1991 and 1992. He also appeared in Steven Soderbergh's The Underneath (1995), and most recently in 2010 sci-fi movie Earthling.

Ray Wise plays Leland Palmer, the seemingly loving and later bereft father of Laura Palmer, who suffers manic nervous breakdowns following Laura's murder, during which his hair turns white and he sings nursery rhymes in a crazed manner.

Wise starred as Blair Sullivan in Dallas (1982) and also appeared in the original RoboCop prior to his role in Twin Peaks.

He went on to appear in movies including Jeepers Creepers II (2003) and X-Men First Class (2010) along with further TV roles in primetime success stories such as 24, How I Met Your Mother and Mad Men.

And last but by no means least... Sheryl Lee, as the ill-fated Laura Palmer (who also plays her concerned cousin Maddy Ferguson). Laura's body washes up on shore covered in plastic in the series premiere, and her death serves as the catalyst for the events that follow.

Lee returned for the prequel movie Fire Walk With Me in 1992, and went on to star in John Carpenter's bloodthirsty Vampires in 1998.

She also played Ellie Harp in TV high school drama One Tree Hill, and also starred with Jennifer Lawrence in the critically-acclaimed and Oscar-nominated drama Winter's Bone.

The actress also featured in thriller Texas Killing Fields alongside Jessica Chastain and Sam Worthington.